Railway-crossing construction



Aug. 20, 1929. H. E. MUcHNlc RAILWAY CROSSING CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 16, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 20, 1929. H. s. MucHNlc RAILWAY CROSSING CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 16, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. E. MucHNlc A RAILWAY CROSSING CONSTRUCTION 'Y y Filed Jan. 16, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 www l l l l' l i l r l l l I l y I l l 1 i l Aug. zo, 1929.

Patented Aug. 20, 1929.

UNITED' STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY E. MUCHNIC, OF ATCHISON, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR TO LOCOMOTIVE FINISHED MATERIAL COMPANY, OF ATCHISON, KANSAS, A CORPORATION OF KANSAS.

RAILWAY-CROSSING CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed January 16, 1928. Serial No. 247,002.

This invention relates to an improvement in railway crossings, particularly pavements at railway crossings, and has for an object thereof the provision of metal structure at so-called grade crossings, forming with the railway roadbed a continuous surface for readily permitting the passage thereover of vehicular traffic.

Among its objects, my invention resides in the provision of metal structure suitable for combining with a railway roadbed to provide a pavement thereover for vehicular cross traffic where highways or the like intei-sect the railway right of way, so as to provide a crossing of firm and long wearing characteristics against extremely heavy traffic.

My invention still further has for an object thereof the provision of a railway crossing to provide a continuous pavement over the rails atv intersections for vehicles, having the favorable characteristics of being simple to lay, requiring no particular skill or expensive modification of the railway roadbed or involving any change'in the position of the rails so far as the attachment thereto of the members to be associated with the rails to form the continuous highway thereover. lVhere my invention is to be used for an electrified railway system, in cluding electrified connections for signalling purposes or other motive power purposes, my invention still further has for an object thereof the provision of a railway crossing for vehicular traffic of metal structure or plates which may be associated with the railway roadbed without interfering with the electrical connections for the purposes specified, such as signalling or motive power. 40. In the preferred embodiment, my invention has for an object thereof the provision of metallic blocks arranged to engage standard rails, forming with the I-beam structure thereof key or locking engagement to pro- 45 vide a continuation of the vehicular roadbed with. the railway roadbed, to be held in position against horizontal stresses vas well as vibratory action of rolling stock thereover, the engagement of the blocks being of v0. the character such as will not require predetermined preparation of the railway roadbed or railway ties assembled therewith with without the use of special tools or machinery, without in any way interfering with the railway roadbed. More particularly, I prefer to provide metallic blocks or elements having the rail engaging portions and supported upon the base flanges of the rails and spaced therefrom as well as from the ties, providing ready drainage thereunder and avoiding the accumulation of mud or dbris which may ordinarily displace the metal structure or otherwise interfere with the long life or intended operation of an electrified railway system. The invention further contemplates the suspension of metallic plates to form a continuous crossing over a railway roadbed, to form key engagement with the rails thereof, the keying engagement being characterized by the shock absorbing and non-conducting qualities of inter-posed, non-metallic elements between the rails and the plates whereby the plates may be forced into engagement against the com pression of the resilient body of the nonmetallic elements.

The general characteristics of the elements forming the railway crossing or plates as contemplated, by my invention, involve the provision of plates or blocks which include a surface portion having an end rail engaging portion and downwardly disposed flanges having a support upon the flange of a rail, the blocks including bridging portions across the railway ties or intervenin spaces between the rails to provide a blocl having the highest economy so far as Weight of metal is concerned, greatest strength so far as structure is concerned, to support the normal loads encountered, but sufficiently spaced from the railway bed to be free from interference due to accumulation of mud and dbris and permitting the free drainage of water thereunder. Further characteristics of the railway crossing include plates or blocks which have keying engagement with the rails of the railway bed which may be disposed in keying engagement against the resilient, non-metallic elements, to .prevent displacement of the rails from their normal position, further augmenting the metallic character of the crossing by the shock absorbing properties of the engagement of the plates with the rails. l

Other features of my invention reside in the provision of a railway crossing pavement and paving elements or `blocks having locking engagement with standard rails, the

' .the base fiange and-the ball of the rail and further characterizedby including an intermediate support between pairs of rails; the

provision of a railway crossing pavement including elements or blocks having locking engagement with the rails and bridging onlyV partially the space between pairs of rails, including intermediate support upon an additional rail, beam or stringer; the provision of a railway crossing pavement including ele- .i ments which may be disposed between pairs of rails and supported at an intermediate point between the rails, to be slid into posi* tion in engagement with the railway roadbed rails, without modification of the rails, whereby a plurality of plates or elements which may bev positioned independently of each other and removed from their engaging position without modification of other plates and their engagement'with the rails or any d intermediate point of support; the provision of a railway crossing element including elements which are substantially wholly supported upon the rail-s of the roadbed and intermediate supports therefor to clear the railway supporting ties of the railway bed and capable of being used with an electrified system, without in any way interfering with such electrical connections as may be used for signalling or inet-ive power, the railway roadbed being characterized by the support in engagement with the rails or the railway roadbed to be non-conducting as well .as shock absorbing.

Y To attain these objects and such further objectsas may appear herein or be herein- Yafter pointed out, I malre reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, in which d Figure 1 is a section across a railway crossing illustrating one embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 1 of another embodiment of my s invention the use of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2; l

Figure 6 is an Venlarged detailed sect-ion ofthe embodiment shown in Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a partial section on a line 7 7 of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a sectional view illustrating my invention as used in a railway roadbed having two sets of tracks;

Figure 9 isa fragmentary plan view of the embodiment shown in Figure 8.

Making reference to the drawings, in the embodiment shown in Figure 1, my invention may be used in connection with a railway roadbed having the ties 10 and parallel disposed rails 11 mounted thereon in the customary manner. To form a continuous pavement thereover at a point where a road intersects the railway right-of-way, there are provided side plates 12 and 13 outside the rails and center plates 111 and 15 between the rails.

Reference may now b-e had to Figures 6 and '7, which show the enlargements of the pertinent portions shown in Figure 1, and that portion which is common to the embodiment shown in Figures 1, 5 and S. The plate 14 has an upper wearing surface formed with side flanges 15', and reinforcing ribs 16, so formed as to give maximum supporting strength and minimum weight. To one side of the plate, there are provided downwardly disposed flanges 17, including an offset portion 18, to give wheel flange clearance and a rail engaging extension 19, and a heel 20, angularly disposed. The ei;- tension 19 and heel 2O are so formed in relation to the rail that they may be received by the rail between the ball 217 the base flange 22, and the vertical flange 23, in substantially nested engagement and for this purpose 1 interpose between the extension 19, the portion 21 and the flanges 22 and 23, insulating blocks 211 and 25, the latter being formed to have the plate rest thereupon, giving resilient support, beth laterally and downwardly. The block 241 is adapted to resist lateral pressure and upward pressure resiliently thereagainst. The' opposite end of the plate 14 is arranged to rest upon an intermediate supporting member such as a Stringer 26, and in the embodiment shown in Figures 1, 5, 7, 8 and 9, the plate is provided with a downwardly disposed flange 27, having an inwardly directed portion 28 provided with an orificer29, through which there may be passed the screw bolt B0 in alignment with the orifice 31 in the upper surface of the plate. It will'thus be observed that a plate such as 14 bridges the space between the rails, resting 'upon the base flange 22 and the intermediate medium, such as the stringer 26. lVhere my railway crossing plates are used in association with a pairvof rails, including an electrified system, I prefer to have the intermediate support 26 in the nature of a wooden Stringer having high insulating qualities and where pairs of plates such as 14 are used to span the space between pairs of rails, the plates 14 are separated from each other by a strip 32. For positioning the plates, pairs of the members may be assembled, with the flanges 20 resting upon the base flanges 22 and the interposed strips 24 and 25. Between the pairs of plates, there is disposed the intermediate strip 32. Vith the plates slightly buckled upwards, pressure upon the pairs of plates 14, with the intermediate strip dis- :posed between, will force the plates into lateral engagement beneath the railheads, at which point the screw bolts 30 may be aflixed into position.

By the construction described, a simple plate member is afforded to bridge the space between therails 11, permitting ready passage of surface water and debris, at the same time affording a rigid construction having shock absorbingly, as well as non-conducting electrical properties.

In the view shown in Figure 9, there is further illustrated the arrangement of the plates permitting rigid engagement with the rails without disturbing their position. I may further provide a clearance slot 33 to permit ready drainage of water from the upper surface of the plates to prevent accumulation thereof between the offset portion 18 and the railhead. Approach plates 12 and 13 may be affixed, to be held against upward displacement and for this purpose one edge is providedwith a downwardly disposed flange 34, having a heel portion 35, adapted to rest upon the base flange of the rail and supported upon an insulating strip 36. The exterior of the flange 34 has an offset portion 37 and a rail head engaging lug 38. The heel 36 and the lug 38 are so spaced as to securely hold the plate in engagement with the rail when these portions are forced between the rail head and the base flange, against the resilient nonconducting strip 36. The opposite end of the plate is provided with a downwardly extending flange 39 and outwardly disposed portion 40 arranged to rest upon the Stringer 41 and adapted to be affixed in posit-ion by the screw bolt 42 passing through the orifice 43, immediately under the orifice 44 in the surface of the plate, enlarged to permit the passage of a socket wrench or some other tool for positioning or removing the screw bolt. The approach plate as thus described is affixed in position by first disposing the strip 3G upon the base flange of the rail and the offset portion and abutment disposed beneath the ball of the rail, using the ball of the rail as a fulcrum upon the offset portion 37 and lug 38. Downwardly pivotal movement of the left hand end of the approach plate, as by driving the screw bolt into the tie 10 and Stringer 41, will serve to key the right hand end of the approach plate 12 in position, resiliently disposed between the rail head and the base flange.

In Figure 2 I have described la railway crossing pavement involving central plates 14a and 15a, having end flanges 17a of similar character, and heel portions 20, each of which is adapted to rest upon the base flange of the main rail 11 and the intermediate supporting member which, in this embodiment, has the same configuration as the main rail and hereinabove referred to as intermediate supporting member 26f. Interposed between the heel of the extension members 20, there is disposed the shock absorbing and insulating strip 25u. The end flanges 17a are formed with offset portions 18 and socket portions 19, adapted to receive pairs of locking wedges 24, adapted to engage beneath the rail ball 21. The wall of the socket 19a will serve to confine the wedges when moved in opposite directions, to spread them against. the ball of the rail 21.

By the construction shown, I have provided center plates for pairs of rails disposed resilient-ly to resist shock laterally and vertically, offering structure wherein a plate of convenient size and weight may be disposed between the rails without modifying the rail structure, at t-he same time avoiding any interference with an electrified system, either for signalling purposes or electro-motive power.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, I have provided center plates 14b and 15", which include main rail engaging flanges of the character described in connection with Figure 2 and intermediate rail engaging flanges of substantially the same character described in connection with the construction shown in Figure 1 with the main rails 11. However, the railway flange clearance portion 18 is not included and the extension portion 19 is so formed as to engage strips similar to those described in connection with Figures 1 and 6 and the members 24 and In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, I may construct my railway pavement crossing by providing main rails 11 and intermediate rail 26, bridging the space therebetween by center plates 14c and 15". The opposite ends of these plates are provided with downwardly disposed flanges 17C and 27C. The flange 17c is of the character described in connection with the construction illustrated in Figure 2 and the member 17a. The flange 27 C is of the character described in. connection with the approach plate 12 and the flange 34, provided with an offset portion 37c and an abutment 38', whose heel portion 35 rests upon t-he base flange of the rail between which there is interposed a non-metallic strip 36C, having shock absorbing and insulating qualit-ies. The feature of this embodiment, as Well as that described in Figure 3, resides not only in its shock absorbing properties, both laterally and vertically, but also in its electrical insulating qualities. Furthermore, the plates such as 14C and l5c maybe disposed in position b y lirst engaging the flanges such as 19"L and 27C with the intermediate rail 26"'. r1`he left hand ends of the plates are then alliXed in position in a manner as described in connection with the embodiment illustrated in Fig ure 2 wherein a pair of oppositely disposed wedge blockssimilar to those numbered 24 in the embodiment. shown in Figure 2 are disposed in a socket 19 to rigidly hold the heel 25C upon the base flange of the rail and against upward displacement by pressure on the rail ball 21.

ln Figure 8 l have illustrated my invention in connection with a double track railway bed in which there are mounted upon pairs of railway ties 10 and 10, pairs of rails 11 and llf. V] here such rails are mounted upon crowned railway beds, the intermediate space between the railway tracks may be bridged by plates la and l5, having` central support upon the stringer 26d, mounted upon a base l0". rlhe plates 14d and l5'1 have downwardly disposed flanges 34d and 27, at opposite ends thereof. The flange 34rd makes rail head engagement with the rail l1 in the manner as described in connection with the structure shown in Figure G and provided by the plate 12 and the .member Bel. rlhe flange 27 is of the character' described in connection with the embodiment illustrated in Figure 7 and has the parts similarly formed, as at 28 Iand Q9, held in position by a bolt such as 30, adapted to be reached through the orifice 31 in the surface of the plate. Pairs ofr plates such as 14 and 15 are spaced from each other by an insulated, resilient, non-metallic strip 32d.

By this construction, pairs oit sharply peaked and ballasted railway beds may be bridged to form a continuous highway for vehicular traiiic without in any way modifying the railway bed Iand which, furthermore, is not only shock absorbing but avoids interference in any way with an electrified system, either for Vsignalling purposes ory electro-motive power.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. ,ln a railway crossing, a series of cross tics and main track rails, a set of plates between the main rails adapted to forma continuous surface thereovel, each plate comprisinga flat body portion and supporting flanges at its ends formed for engaging said rails and resting on the base flanges ot the rails and shock insulating means interposed between the ends of the plates and the rails. 2. In a railway crossing, a series of cross ties and main track rails, a set of plates between the main rails adapted to form a.V

continuous surface thereover, each plate comprising a flat body portion and supporting flanges at its ends with offset portions adapted to engage said rails resting on the base flanges of the rails and shock insulating means interposed between the ends of the plates upon which said plates rest and means for holding the plates in position engaging the ball portion of said rails.

3. ln a railway crossing, a series of cross ties and main track rails, a lset of plates between the main rails adapted to form a continuous surface thereover, each plate comprising a flat body portion and engaging and supporting flanges at its ends resting on the base flanges of the rails and shock insulating means upon which said plates rest including a portion interposed between the ends of the plates and the webs of the rails and means .for holding the plates in position, engaging the ball portion of said rails, said last mentioned means comprising a Vpair of' wedge blocks.

t. ln a railway crossing, a seriesv of cross ties and main track rails and an intermediate support therebetween, a set of plates for bridging the portion between the main track rails adapted to form a continuous surface thereover, each plate comprising a flat body portion and end flanges arranged to rest upon the main track rails and the intermediate support and shock absorbing strips disposed between each of' the end flanges, the rails and support at the points vwhere they engage the track rails and intermediate support,

5. ln a railway crossing, a series ofrcross ties and main track rails and an intermediate support therebetween, a set of' plates for bridgingthe portion between the main track rails adapted to form a continuous surface thereover, each plate comprising a fiat body portion and end `Hanges adapted to be supported upon main track rails and the intermediate support and shock absorbing strips disposed between each of the flanges and the rails at the point where they engage the Y support and shock absorbing strips disposed.

between Veach of the flanges, the rails and support at the points where they engage the track rails and intermediate support, and means toy preifent vertical and lateral displacement of said plates.

7. In a railway crossing, a series of cross ties and main track rails and an intermediate support therebetween, a set of plates for bridging the port-ion between the main track rails adapted to form a continuous surface thereover, each plate comprising a flat body portion and end flanges arranged to rest upon the main track rails and the intermediate support and shock absorbing strips disposed between each of the flanges, the rails and support at the points where they engage the track rails and intermediate support, and means to prevent vertical and lateral displacement of said plates comprising shock absorbing and electrical insulating strips adapted to engage the rail balls of the main track rails.

8. In a railway crossing a series of cross ties and main track rails and an intermediate support therebetween, a set of plates for bridging the portion between the main track rails adapted to form a continuous surface thereover, each plate comprising a flat body portion and end flanges arranged to rest upon the main track rails and the intermediate support and shock absorbing strips disposed between the flanges and the rails at the points where they engage the main 'track rails and an insulating strip disposed between the plates at the point where they rest upon the intermediate support.

9. In a railway crossing a series of cross ties and main track rails and an intermediate support therebetween, a set of plates for bridging the portion between the main track rails adapted to form a continuous surface thereover, each plate comprising a flat body portion and end flanges arranged to rest upon the main track rails and the intermediate support and shock absorbing strips disposed between the flanges and the rails at the points where they engage the main track rails and an insulating strip disposed between the plates and support at the point Where they rest upon the intermediate support, said intermediate support being made of non-conducting and shock absorbing material.

10. In a railway crossing, a series of cross ties and main track rails and an intermediate support therebetween, a set of plates for bridging the portion between the main track rails adapted to form a continuous surface thei'eover, each plate comprising a flat body portion having Aat one end an end flange adapted to rest upon the base flange of the main track rail and engaging the ball thereof and a downwardly disposed flange at the opposite end adapted to rest upon the intermediate support, and means for holding said plates against vertical and lateral displacement.

11. In a railway crossing, a series of cross ties and main track rails and an intermediate support therebetween, a set of plates for bridging the portion between the main track rails adapted to form a continuous surface thereover, each plate comprising a flat body portion having at one end an end ange adapted to rest upon the base flange of the main track rail and formed to be held against displacement by said rail and a downwardly disposed flange at the opposite end adapted to rest upon the intermediate support and means for holding said plates against vertical and lateral displacement engaging said downwardly disposed flange.

l2. In a railway crossing, a series of cross ties and main track rails and an intermediate support therebetween comprising a member having the configuration of a track rail, a set of plates for bridging the space between the main track rails adapted to form a continuous surface thereover, each plate comprising a flat body portion and endflanges Vadapted to be supported upon the base flanges= of the rails and means to hold said plates against vertical and lateral displacement, said means comprising non-metallic material.

13. In a railway crossing, a series of cross ties and main track rails and an intermediate `support disposed substantially in parallelism to said rails, a set of plates for bridging the space between the main track rails adapted to form a continuous surface thereover, each plate comprising a flat body portion and end flanges and means resiliently dispose said plates between the main track rails, the intermediate support and each other.

14. In a railway crossing, a series of cross ties and main track rails and an intermediate support disposed in substantial parallelism to said rails, a set of plates for bridging the space between the main` track rails adapted to form a continuous surface thereover, each plate comprising a flat body portion and end flanges and means to resiliently dispose said plates between the main track rails and'each other, and fastening means for said plates adapted to engage the intermediate support and means to prevent vertical displacement of said plates engaging the rail balls of the main track rails and the intermediate support.

15. In a railway crossing including a series of cross ties and main track rails, and an intermediate support therebetween, a plate adapted to bridge the space between the main track rails and the intermediate support, said plate including a main track rail engaging flange and an intermediate support engaging flange at opposite ends, said flanges being so formed as to be capable of being positioned by vertical tilting movement upon the main track rail and the intermediate support without modification of either.

16. In a railway crossing including a series of cross ties and main track rails, and an intermediate support therebetween, a plate adapted to bridge the space between the main track rails and the intermediate support, said plate comprising a main track rail engaging flange7 an intermediate support engaging llange, said flanges .being so formed as to be capable of being positioned by verti- -cal tilting movement upon the main track rail and the intermediate support without modification of either and means to prevent lvertical and lateral displacement of said plate engaging said flanges.

17. In a railway crossing including a series of cross ties and main track rails, and an intermediate support therebetween, a plate adapted to bridge the space between the main track rails and the intermediate support, said plate comprising a main track rail engaging `iange, anv intermediate support engaging ilange, said langes being so formed as to be 18. In a railway crossing, a series of cross ties and main track rails and an intermediate support,` a set of plates for bridging the 'space between the main track rails adapted ,tracks and roadbeds therefor, intermediate supports between the railway tracks disposed substantially in parallelism to said tracks and the railway road beds, a set of plates for bridging the space between each ot' the rails and the roadbeds and to form a continuous highway over the railway right, of way, said plates comprising a flat body portion and end flanges formed with portions adapted to engage with and be supported upon the rails and intermediate supports and shock absorbing means between said plates and supports. A

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

HENRY E. MUCHNIC. 

